Negative news cycle getting you down? Read this
The beginning of 2020 has been a bit tough, hasn’t it? Between the relentless storms, the sad celebrity deaths and the endless talk of the Coronavirus, it feels like the collective mood of the nation has definitely taken a bit of a turn for the worse.
I know I’ve been feeling it myself - I’ve found myself in a funk a couple of times already this year, and with a bout of illness thrown in on top, I’ve struggled to find my joyful mojo. And I know from chatting to my clients and some of you lovely humans on email or in DMs that a lot of you are feeling the same way too.
So today, I thought I’d try to counteract the negative news cycle in some small way, and share a list of ways that we can all invite a little bit more joy into our lives. Shall we all make a pact to commit to doing a couple of things off the list today, or in the coming week, to boost our happiness and spread a little bit of positivity to those people around us?
Let me know what you’re committing to, and let’s start a mini joyful revolution…
1) Call a friend or a loved one and have a proper, in depth catch up. We rely on Whatsapp and Instagram so much these days, but hearing your best mate’s laugh is good for the soul.
2) Get outside for some fresh air. Make a conscious effort to listen to the birds, feel the sun on your face and smile at any strangers you pass.
3) Bake something delicious from scratch. I can thoroughly recommend this banana bread recipe, and these blondies always go down a treat.
4) Take a whole day off from checking the news. Notice how different you feel by detaching from our rolling news cycle for a while.
5) Actively seek out some positive news. Maybe even subscribe to The Happy News by Emily Coxhead.
6) Go out of your way to do something nice for someone else. Leave a positive review, buy a coffee for someone in need, or simply pay someone a genuine compliment.
7) Grab a blank piece of paper and make a list of all the things you’re grateful for in your life. Stick it up somewhere that you’ll see it often.
8) Read something uplifting and inspiring. Some of my faves in this category include The Lido, The Right Swipe and Dear Mrs Bird.
9) Send some happy mail to your friends or family. Cut out articles from magazines that you think they’ll like, share an inspirational postcard, or simply send a card to let them know you’re thinking of them.
10) Write a spring and summer bucket list. Think of all the lovely things you want to do in the coming months, and then put some plans in action.
11) Spend some time with some children or animals. Notice how they’re so rooted to the present moment, and consider how you can invite more of that presence into your own life.
12) Treat yourself to some cheap, colourful blooms, and allow them to cheer you up whenever you see them.
13) Make a playlist of your favourite, upbeat songs and have a little kitchen dance party.
14) Use something that you’ve been saving for best - spritz that perfume, wear that dress, light that candle, and enjoy it!
15) Take a moment to breathe properly. Breathe in gently and steadily through your nose to the count of 6, and then breathe out slowly to the count of six. Smile as you do it.
